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PERMA(nent) Smile

Last month I attended Dr. Martin Seligman’s public lecture in Melbourne.

Seligman is known as the founding father of Positive Psychology
–not to be confused with self-helpish positive thinking.
I recall seeing his name in textbooks over the years as one
who coined the phrase “learned helplessness”
and later focused his research on “optimism” and “authentic happiness.”

I couldn’t ask him to sign my copy of his book Flourish (the downside of reading via Kindle)…but I did get a photo 🙂

Yes…I seem to have a permanent smile these days 🙂

Not just because I live in Australia (…though that probably has a lot to do with it) – but I consider myself a cup-is-half-full optimist.
Even if the cup really is half empty, I would likely search for
a solution to make the cup runneth-over.

Seligman explained that he began his studies as a pessimist, and that he believed “only pessimists could do good work on optimism.”
He got a laugh, and it made me think of my ‘Pollyanna worldview.’
My optimistic outlook may be Pollyannaish but I don’t think I am too naïve.

I am well aware and not desensitized to theworldly news of unjust and devastating circumstances.
Instead of becoming pessimistic and cynical, I often find comfort in the [cliché] mentality of ‘one person really can make a difference’
(…I recently used that saying in January’s Charity Spotlight…)
or I can be found ‘looking for the good side of things in the bad.’

Seligman’s recent theoretical and research efforts centre on a theory “PERMA”
that makes well-being not only measurable but teachable (visit his website authentichappiness.org for details):

P = Positive emotion: hunting for the good stuff

E= Engagement: doing what are you best at in the world

R = Relationships: making already good relationships better

M = Meaning: belonging to or serving something bigger than yourself

A = Accomplishment: gaining a sense of mastery and competence from achievement

Seligman argues against the Freuds and Woody Allens of the world who view
‘the good life’ as one devoid of suffering– that the best we can strive for is to not be miserable.
To enhance well-being, we [obviously] do want to relieve suffering but we also
need to focus on increasing PERMA.

His approach is helping soldiers with post-traumatic stress and is encouraging positive education in schools.

Positive Psychology interventions and research results highlight the importance of gratitude (a popular topic these days) as part of evidence-based health-promoting practices aimed at enhancing well-being.